FORMER Morton and Livingston goalkeeper Colin Stewart hopes it'll be a case of happy families as he takes his first steps into management at Kilwinning Rangers.

Stewart has teamed up with brother-in-law Chris Strain as co-bosses at the Buffs and has wee brother Fraser as a potential glove rival at the club.

But after an 18-year professional career, which also included spells with Ross County and Partick Thistle, the towering shotstopper says there's no chance of a rift in the Stewart clan as he plans to leave the goalkeeping duties to his sibling.

The 34-year-old is 100 per cent focused on coaching and said: "This is a great opportunity for myself and Chris and, to be honest, the time has maybe come for me to hang up the gloves in a playing sense.

"I have worked really hard to get to where I am in my coaching career and I see that as my job now.

"If you are going to be a manager then you should stick to being a manager and I will leave it down to Fraser and the other goalkeepers at the club to fight it out for the gloves although I might play the odd bounce game to keep my eye in."

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Already midfielder Craig Potter has been placed on the transfer list at his own request but Stewart has been impressed with the quality and attitude of the Abbey Park squad.

He said: "We want to hit the ground running and secure our position in the Superleague first division for next season as quickly as possible then we can sit down with the committee and see where we want to take the club.

"Chris and I have walked into a dressing room that's been fairly successful this year and the previous management have left us with a really talented squad.

"Only one player said he wanted to move on and we appreciate his honesty. Craig is on the transfer list and we accept he is after a new challenge and he will leave the club with our best wishes.

"If funds become available to strengthen the squad then great and I know the committee are working hard behind the scenes.

"But first and foremost we want to give the players that are already here a fair shot. This squad have done well by the club and have worked and played the last few months for virtually nothing.

"That's the type of attitude we are looking for and if the players continue to show that commitment then we will commit to them."

Stewart is son of former Rangers and Kilmarnock goalkeeper Jim and is married to Scotland womens' football legend Julie. The family ties now stretch to his co-boss at Abbey Park and he believes it's a partnership which can work well for Kilwinning.

He said: "Chris and I are very much co-managers and between us we will make decisions - there is no one person who will have the final say.

"We have set out certain ground rules. Chris knows the junior game really well and has been coaching for two or three years. I have done my badges at Largs and have been coaching for a while now at Rangers and in the Scotland youth set-up.

"We have both played for this club and are from the area. So we feel we are ready for this new challenge and will work well together."